Saturday, 7 July 2018

Age of Sigmar Second Edition Review Part 1

Hi everyone!

We were lucky enough to be sent a review copy of the new Age of Sigmar boxed game to review here at Battle Bunnies. To be honest I don’t really do unboxing videos and I work full time (plus GW only sent us it 4 days before release) so I find it difficult to absorb all the information and form a coherent post in time for pre-orders. So, although I know there are a billion reviews out there now, here is mine. I hope you will find it a bit different. We know the models are amazing quality and the designs are solid (people are even starting to come round to Stormcast), we know the quality of the set, the price and the value and we know that the rules have been added to and clarified more than revamped entirely. I will look at these areas in this article but I will have a look at the Lore from the new Core Book in a different post this weekend. I am a much more narrative gamer and for me this was the weakest area of Age of Sigmar so that is the area I want to discuss more. Anyway, I digress lol:

Miniatures:

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Soul Wars contains 52 miniatures – 33 Nighthaunt, and 19 Stormcast Eternals – providing 2 players with an army each with which to do spectacular battle. Each miniature is push-fit, with no glue necessary, meaning you can have them assembled and ready for war impressively quickly.

The value of this box, for me, is incredible. If you get it from your favourite online store you can even get 25% off! The miniatures are beautifully designed and go together with ease. We will be looking into both armies over the coming week with reviews for both Battletomes.

Gaming Content

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Soul Wars includes:

– the complete, unabridged Warhammer Age of Sigmar Core Book This is a 320-page hardback book filled with rich history, background and rules you can use to play your games of Warhammer Age of Sigmar in whatever way you see fit. Open Play, Matched play and Narrative Play sections are included, each of which can be tailored to your preference. Contained within:

The full core Rulebook:

- an illustrated and annotated guide showing how to play Warhammer Age of Sigmar in an easy to follow manner.- A guide to Open Play games, including a Battleplan Generator which helps you choose objectives, special rules and victory conditions; Coalition of Death rules for team-based play (with 3 Battleplans); and in-depth rules for Ladder Campaigns;- A guide to Narrative Play games, including an annotated example game; a guide to setting up Historical Battles;special rules and 2 Battleplans for re-enacting sieges; rules and 2 Battleplans for fighting in the tunnels and caverns beneath the Mortal Realms; and Triumph & Treachery rules for 3 or more players;- A guide to Matched Play games, which allow players to test their mettle in evenly-matched games of skill and tactics with Pitched Battles allowing for different battle lengths, rules for fielding Warscroll Battalions and Allied units and a table of Battle Strategies providing unpredictable objectives and outcomes to challenge even the most battle-hardened general.

Battle of Glymmsforge:

This 32-page booklet sets the scene for the included miniatures – featuring background on the Soul Wars, details of the Stormcast Eternals’ Sacrosanct Chambers and the history of the Free City of Glymmsforge, the most sacred of Sigmar’s strongholds. On top of this is an overview of Shyish – the Realm of Death – and Nagash’s grand plan; part of which includes an undead assault on Glymmsforge. It includes information on each miniature in the box – their place in their army, their abilities and their origins, and Pitched battle profies for each – as well as an inspiring showcase of beautifully-painted models.

Core Rules:

16-page booklet containing everything you need to begin playing games of Warhammer Age of Sigmar right away. Illustrated examples of every mechanic in the game are here, with step-by step instructions taking you through movement, attacking, using abilities, using magic and testing for battleshock. It includes rules for terrain, explanations of Warscrolls, Warscroll Battalions and Battleplans, Realm of Battle rules and Allegiance Abilities. On its own, this is everything you need to set up and play immediately – combined with the myriad optional rules found in the Core Book it’s an incredibly powerful and flexible basis for playing wargames with your miniatures the way you want to.

An 8-page booklet:

- providing essential information about the Age of Sigmar, the contents of the box you’ve just opened and the hobby of collecting, building, painting and playing with Citadel miniatures. Includes an overview of the Nighthaunt and Stormcast Eternals factions, as well as a Battleplan!

Gaming Aids:

- 13 Warscroll Cards are also included: these are handy, small-format cards containing the rules for each unit included in the box.

- 12 14mm, 6-sided turquoise gem dice;- A 12” transparent range ruler;- An easy to follow, colour construction guide with step by step instructions for each miniature, making the push-fit models even easier to build- A Stormcast Eternals transfer sheet.Also included is a 32-page preview of the Black Library novel Soul Wars, whetting your appetite for further adventures in the Age of Sigmar.

There is a ton of stuff in the box to keep you occupied and everything you need to start playing the game. For me, the one thing that can improve a boxed set is to make a core set with no miniatures and then have a discount code or something for loads of different start collecting forces. There are many different factions in the Age of Sigmar, far more than Warhammer 40,000 (individual chapters and regiments aside lol) so I always wonder how much a boxed set actually appeals to people. If you get the core set with all the books etc you should get 2 codes for discounts on similar sized forces for any faction. But this is just my opinion :)

All in all, amazing set with everything you need to start playing games. Great quality miniatures, gaming aids and the books are stunning. Like I said, I will be going into the fluff in part 2 of the review, an area which doesn’t get discussed quite as much. If you have any questions you would like me to answer on the boxed game please drop a comment and I will respond or add it to the next article.